Friday, February 6, 2009

Team Previews- The Top 4

The Top 4

Republic of Ireland- Ireland will be dealing with losing 3 of their top playmakers this year, with their main striker, center defender, and main keeper leaving(Brett Bachelu, Benno Looft, Tristan Manz respectively). This is a severe blow to the team, but Ireland is still a force to be reckoned with. They will be able to fill those positions, and though they won't be as dominant as before, anyone underestimating Ireland will be in for a major surprise. Ireland has big, strong, and skilled players at every position. Ireland may have lost some guys, but don't be surprised to see them making a run at the final once again.

Laos- After finishing second place last year, Laos will be making another run at the WCP Cup. The team remains completely intact from last year, meaning you can consider Laos a top contender. With the addition of perhaps a couple players, including Josh Northey on the wing, they look to be even better. A quick and tricky team, Laos works out of the midfield in a variety of ways. They can score from anywhere. They can be exploited, but for a team to beat Laos, they will have to play solid team soccer for the entire game. You give Laos a chance, and they will bury your team.

Scotland- Scotland is another team very much unchanged, with the exception of their keeper, J.D. Blakley, who might not be back from SFU in time for the tournament. Scotland's reputation is as a team that won't give up goals, but has a bit of trouble scoring. However, their team will be in contention in every game they play. They will be hard-pressed to repeat their bronze medal performance, but they are certainly more than capable. Scotland dares you to underestimate them.

Ukraine- Ukraine has picked up a couple solid players to help solidify their line-up. The most notable of these is Benno Looft, who looks to be playing center back. Although they have lost offensive players Danny Marchinko and Paul Scollan, Ukraine has picked up some very good replacements for them that have the ability to push them over the top. They retain dominant wings and strikers with a solid midfield. Look for Ukraine to be a very dominant force this tournament.

39 comments:

General
said...

laos is going all the way this year.. they have 3 of the best wingers in the tournament in northey ,jiu and myra ..not to mention how good there entire team is overall.. i think its weak that kevin is putting 22 teams in cause that just creates more of a mess.. take out two teams that wont put competition in.. anyway GO LAOS

laos will be very good, considering those wingers and that their team pretty much plays together in indoor. really though the rest of their team isn't THAT good. they don't have any good strikers, decent center mids, and decent defence. theyll still be one of the best teams though. i don't like the 2 extra teams either. force them to combine or something. but i guess eventually there will be enough for 25 teams so we have to start somewhere.

Looks like clock cleaner has jumped on the Laos bandwagon. And General you said Laos have 3 of the best wingers and then you proceeded to name Northey and 2 decent wingers. I am still waiting on the other 2.

Oh clearly Northey is a stud.... that little guy may be the best offensive winger in the tournament.Scotty can play, good talent, and has quite the determination... he'll make a difference.

Ireland could lose those players, but still has nothing to worry about... they still have the Tommy Gun, lethal striker.

Ukraine has landed the jackpot. When you get a legend like Benno on your team, you can't go wrong! Absolute beauty.

As for Scotland; JD made some crucial saves last year and Tavis scored some important goals. No JD, could cause a huge decline for Scotland as I don't see Tavis tearing it up again like he did last year.

laos just isn't as phenomenal as they seem to think they are. northey and scott are good wingers, and they'll be tough for other teams to contain but they can only do so much. you could argue ukraines wing is just as good too. and they actaully have strikers too.

scotland barely beat chile last year, but they still good. probably not top 4 good.

Laos will be solid.If they still have Evan Campbell in net.. well he is a good keeper.Veszi is also a lovely defender to go into the mix.Plus they have great fan support, that great fans make a difference in a game.

Who would be on the Ukraine wing?If you say Benno and Andy, then obviously I'd agree! ha

Damn you Julio, I think you are making fun of me and Ukraine. What does Northey have that I don't? I am just as good as he is on the wing except for speed, skill, fitness, passing and finishing. If you take those things away I'm just as good as him.

Great pickup by Laos though if true. I agree with you that Veszi is a great defender and I think under-rated by a lot of people. But as for your descriptions of these players, "stud" and "lovely" it makes me wonder. Not my choice for describing players but hey I'm not judging you. Who would have known a guy who is such a prick to play against would talk like this. My guess is you probably secretely write romance novels in your spare time Julio and dream of being the next Fabio!

As for Ukraine's wingers, don't worry about us, we'll be fine. Better than Laos or other teams is tough to tell now, we'll have to wait until the tournament.

Andy.... we need to start on the right note; I am the next Fabio... dreaming, please... secondly, yea I have my own sense of vocabulary... but that's how it is.

Obviously I had to drop down a Andy line here so you could finally make an appearence! ha

AS for the prick comment, thanks buddy, I take that as a compliment.... I play to win ya know. Sometimes I get in the zone and am a prick, but what can ya do... Most importantly is I respect the fact that you post with the name!

Fair enough of the comment of the non-laos players, with that being said those players are on the team... and they will make a difference; regardless of how non-laos laos really is. At the end of the day they will win game, they will have great fan support, and they will do well.

It was meant as a compliment Julio, nothing wrong with being a jerk on the field.

I know this is a World Cup site but considering there is little info at this time might as well bring up a different soccer topic, what a win by Liverpool! Torres is the best striker in the world, bar none.

Ha fantastic Andy.... depending how rowdy Julio is feeling, you may be extended an invitation to party it up one night, but you have to bring Benno cause he is a legend!

Ya I am not going to pretend I am a nice guy on the field, cause obviously that isn't the case... but hey you make some fans, you make some enemies.... aslong as their is Julio chants in the crowd... that's all that really matters! haha

Clock cleaner; I agree that there should be a certain level of respect... but for the record; If Julio has to get beaked... that's life... it happens. I just think if you are going to beak, post your name as anyone can hide behind an anonymous tag and say ridiculous comments.

Dirk... maybe the ugliest guy playing soccer right now; and I'd have to say that Fernando is a way better player.... off and on the field!

But if my new best friend Julio and I spoke on the phone you wouldn't be able to read our brilliance. That would be selfish of us. I would like to thank you for your insightful and wildly entertaining post calling us dull. I'm sure it brought so much excitement to everyone reading this site.

France is being picked to finish high because they should have a lot of very good players. Most teams in this tournament don't really play much together so the talent of the individual players means a lot.

france will be good they have pooched great players from every other team they are no better then mike collins and ireland. \if they dont finish high then thats just funny. they should make a rule agianst players team jumping this tournment is about playing for your heritage and having pride in your country.